Schedule of _Hermes_ grown up unto so great, and erroneous a Labyrinth, and daily doe decline into obscurity: And this I beleeve is done only by envious Philosophers, when as the ignorant doe not well know what ought to be added, or left out, if haply the Authours hand cannot well be read. If in any Science, or Art it doth much help, or hurt to have one word lacking, or added, then much more in this: As for example: It is written in one place: _Then mix these waters together_, another addes _Not_, hee indeed added but a little, and yet by this he turned the whole Chapter quite contrary: yet let the diligent Student know, that a Bee doth gather honey out of poisonous hearbs. But if he judgeth what hee reads, according to the possibility of Nature, hee will easily get beyond all the Sophistry of Philosophers: yet let him not give over reading, because one booke explaines another. And by this meanes I understood that the bookes of _Geber_ the Philosopher (and who could know it, but they that read other Authours?) are so wonderfully enchanted, that they cannot possibly be understood, unlesse they be read over a thousand times, and this also by a witty Reader; fooles must bee utterly excluded from reading of them. There bee indeed many that undertake to interpret him as they doe other Authors; but I see their explication is more difficult then the text: My advice is, that thou dost persist in the text, and whatsoever thou readest apply to the possibility of Nature; and in the first place enquire diligently what Nature is. All indeed write, that shee is a thing of small account, easy, common; and indeed it is true, but it should have been added, that shee is so unto wise men. The wise man knows her to be amongst dung, and the ignorant man doth not beleeve her to bee in gold. And all these men, which have made such hard bookes, if they were now ignorant of the Art, but must find it out of such bookes (which books indeed are very true) would with more difficulty find it out, then men, that in these days search into the art, doe. I will not commend mine owne Writings, hee shall judge of them that shall apply them to the possibility, and course of Nature; and if by my Writings, Counsell, Examples, hee shall not know the operation of Nature, and her ministring vitall spirits constringing the aire, as also the subject of the first matter, hee will scarce understand them by _Raimundus Lullius_. It is a hard thing to beleeve that spirits have such a power and force in the belly of the wind. This Wood I also am constrained to goe through, and also I have helped to multiply it, yet in such a manner as my plants shall be signes, a light, and guides to the true Sons of Art, and Students in this sacred Science, that are willing to goe through this Wood; for my plants are as it were corporeall. Those times are now past, when fidelity amongst friends flourished, and this Art was communicated by word of mouth; but now it is not obtained but